There was a time when if you didn't agree with a dominant religion you would cobble together some "book", attract some adherents, build your own church, and even go off and start your own town or city - and leave the rest of us alone. Even the early "socialists" had enough decency and manners to do this.
There are plenty of examples from history - from the Egyptians that decided to worship a "sun god", the insufferable Mormons, Martin Luther and his feces, and the Scientologists. There is that troubling video of Tom Cruise, evidently being hooked up to his EMeter on high voltage for too long, that gives one pause that the FAA has seen fit to not revoke his pilots license.
These days, aside from a few pothead cults that adopt weed as a "sacrament", the trend is to do some "book" and the sit back and either do nothing or attack the rest of us for not doing anything. This is particularly common amongst the rich coastal elites.
There were some homers a few years back that published their own "Gay Bible" - then nothing except to bother the rest of us with their excuses for sodomy. Oprah Winfrey started her own "New Age" religion - and by all accounts has enough money to build her own mega-church, to say nothing of renting out sports stadiums and going on a crusade.
Last, but not least, are your garden variety cafeteria "Christians" - strolling past the buffet of scripture to see what interests them - a Twitter age version of BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible). Thus we have a petulant pop star Taylor Swift, not only deciding to become engaged in politics, but proposing her own Kentucky based Bible (TSV2020).
No one would deny that Taylor Swift has the financial resources to get her Bible published, and build some churches along the way. Better yet, if Oprah can tape the keys for Pontiac G-6 sedans underneath the seats of her audience, Taylor Swift can tape her Bible underneath the seats of her fans and begin preaching at her concerts - to the delight of her adoring public.
Quote:
Taylor Swift Says Her Pro-LGBT, Pro-Choice Brand of Christianity Is the Real Christianity
02-04-2020 Andrea Morris Benjamin Gill
ANALYSIS
The new Netflix documentary "Miss Americana" features pop star Taylor Swift touting her shift to politics, and it takes a left turn when she tries to define what Christians believe to match her own progressive ideas.
In the aftermath of President Trump's election, Swift has not only been speaking out about political candidates, she's even been using her music to promote a pro-LGBT agenda. For example, Swift's rainbow-clad music video last year for her single, "You Need to Calm Down," is an ode to the LGBTQ community and takes jabs at those who disagree with the lifestyle.
Now one excerpt from the Netflix film "Miss Americana" highlights how Swift has been breaking away from her earlier apolitical image to become someone with a heart for politics, tying it to her brand of religion. One clip from the film shows Swift trying to explain what led her to speak out on her political beliefs, particularly her endorsement of Democrat Phil Bredesen in the 2018 Senate race against pro-life Republican Marsha Blackburn.
"This was a situation where, from a humanity perspective and from what my moral compass was telling me I needed to do, I knew I was right, and I really didn't care about repercussions," Swift said.
Taylor Swift Cries Over Trump: "I'm Christian. This Isn't Right"
The excerpt depicts Swift arguing with her parents and publicist over whether to post social media messages regarding her entry into politics and the backlash it may cause. Swift goes on to describe her disgust with Blackburn's Bible-based policies and Christian beliefs.
"I can't see another commercial and see Marsha Blackburn disguising these policies behind the words 'Tennessee Christian values'. Those aren't Tennessee Christian values. I live in Tennessee. I'm a Christian. That's not what we stand for."
“I can't see another commercial and see (@MarshaBlackburn) disguising these policies behind the words 'Tennessee Christian values.’ Those aren't Tennessee Christian values. I live in Tennessee. I'm a Christian. That's not what we stand for." — Taylor Swift pic.twitter.com/C651PI3BEZ
— Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons (@GuthrieGF) January 31, 2020
Swift also came out on the side of abortion in 2019 when she told The Guardian, "I mean, obviously, I'm pro-choice... I can't believe we're here. It's really shocking and awful. And I just wanna do everything I can for 2020. I wanna figure out exactly how I can help."
CBN News has reached out to Taylor Swift's publicist for a comment.
Like Swift, other celebrities in recent years have been promoting their own version of Christianity and claiming their left-leaning brand is the real definition of what it means to follow Christ.
CBN News previously reported that Lady Gaga called herself a Christian while showing harsh judgment toward Vice President Mike Pence and his biblical definition of traditional marriage between one man and one woman.
The singer stopped mid-performance at a Las Vegas concert to condemn Pence his Christian beliefs. "And to Mike Pence, who thinks it's acceptable that his wife works at a school that bans LGBTQ, you are wrong. You say we should not discriminate against Christianity; you are the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian," she said.
"I am a Christian woman," Gaga claimed. "And what I do know about Christianity is that we bear no prejudice and everybody is welcome."
Turning to the actual political realm, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said he's a homosexual Christian last year. Evangelist Franklin Graham offered a response to what Buttigieg and celebrities have tried to do, saying you can't change the Bible to fit your own beliefs.
Graham said, "Mayor Buttigieg says he's a gay Christian. As a Christian, I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman—not two men, not two women."
Graham continued, "Buttigieg made the comment, 'the condition of my soul is in the hands of God'…Mayor Buttigieg is absolutely right—His soul is in the hands of God, so is everyone's."
"He also says that he's a Christian and wants to become the first openly gay president in America's history. What's wrong with that picture? In reality, being a Christian isn't just a title we select or a church membership. It is a faith in God and His Word that transforms our lives to be more like the One we follow—Jesus Christ."
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/enterta...l-christianity
|